Kelowna, Louvre have something in common
Painting in famed Paris gallery is the subject of a local rock opera
Today, while you sip your favourite morning beverage and read the paper, I am on a plane to Florence, Italy. I have been to Italy many times, but never to the city where Michelangelo’s David stands.
I am tearing up with happy thoughts as I write this because I will be visiting one of my best friends, Lori Anne, whom I have not seen for almost 15 years. She’s an Italian New Yorker who moved to London to work in the City as a broker.
We met in our early 30s when she asked the right person the right question; “Where can I go to hear some jazz.” I told her I was a jazz singer and I had a gig that night. In a true New-York-style minute, she bleeped some swear words in astonishment and then swiftly told me in her NYC accent “well, we’re gonna get along.”
And that’s exactly what we did for at least eight years before life got in the way. I moved to China. She met a man, got married, had children, moved back to New York proclaiming that Italy was where she wanted to settle down and now, as she is living out her dream life with her family in Florence, my dream to reunite with a precious friend is coming true.
I am spending five days with her before I embark on another adventure, this time in France.
Paris is the first destination then off to the south. While in Paris, I already have plans to revisit some tourist spots such as the Louvre — it has been almost 20 years since I saw Mona Lisa’s smile and while spending the day feasting on other glorious artifacts inside this amazing building, one canvas that hangs at this world famous museum will come to life here in Kelowna.
The Raft Of Medusa is an over-size painting of a shipwreck that ran aground in 1816. Painted by Theodore Gericault, it now hangs inside the Denon wing of The Louvre, and it’s the inspiration of a rock musical two local musician/script writers are bringing to the stage in Kelowna.
Randall Robinson and Pat Brown wrote, produced and directed this epic story of the painter who becomes obsessed with creating a canvass depicting the tragedy.
The musical debuted in 2015 and with a few tweaks and a shorter title, now only known at RAFT, it is ready for a second time around, but this time partnered with Theatre Kelowna Society and holding a fist full of accolades and honours from drama competitions and show tours alike.
Masterfully blending dramatic storytelling with theatrical-rock music, it tells the tale of this harrowing event through the eyes of the painter.
Jazz pianist/vocalist and actor Neville Bowman stars as Gericault, along with almost all of the original cast. With powerhouse voices like Annie Scott (Alexandrine de Saint), this is surely a do-not-miss night out!
The musical runs for only four shows, tonight to Saturday at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave.
Tickets cost $30 for adults or $25 for seniors and students, plus a $3.75 fee., Purchase them at the RCA box office or call 250-717-5304. Supporting local theatre at this high of a calibre inspires us to think, how we were there at the beginning.
————— Speaking of inspiring musical theatre, Kelowna Actors Studio and choir director for the Kelowna Community Chorus Susan Skinner, needs your beautiful voice.
She is putting together a choir to sing for a recording that will be used as a soundtrack for the upcoming epic musical, Hunchback Of Notre Dame.
Skinner requires all voice parts — soprano, alto, tenor, bass — especially high tenors and sopranos who can who hit a hit high “D.”
The audition is tonight at the First Mennonite Church, 1305 Gordon Dr. Arrive between 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Once you are in the choir and need extra vocal help, Skinner will be available on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon weekly. A great way to be involved in a show and work on your choral skills with free singing lessons.
————— It’s also our chance to join the Kelowna International Choir for its fall start-up on Mondays from 7:15 to 9:15 pm, at First Lutheran Church, 4091 Lakeshore Rd. All are welcome at the choir’s first practice as it begins to prepare for its fall program.
The end result is a Christmas benefit concert for the foodbank in December.
If you can’t make the first practice, join the choir any Monday at 7:15 p.m. to try it out. All voices are welcome, especially altos, tenors and basses. For more information, check the website kichoir.weebly.com.
————— Once the weekend is over and you have worn all your favourite outfits to the fab stuff you are obviously attending, why not attend a fashion show hosted by The Salvation Army Central Okanagan.
This is a great opportunity to buy highend items to keep looking fabulous, all in the name of charity. The event will be held at the Coast Capri Hotel on Monday under the event name Army Rouge.
The goal is to highlight the originality of second-hand clothing donated for others to love, wear and enjoy. Most of the outfits will be under $25 to purchase, so with designers names like Escada, Boss, Georges Rech, Joseph Ribkoff Karen Wilson, etc., being auctioned off, the $20 entrance fee is positively a steal when most of the outfits that will be modelled had price tags of up to $500 in regular designers shops.
The models are women of all shapes and sizes who have been chosen because they are leaders in our community and represent the diversity of women today.
The fashion show will feature three different sections — casual wear, work attire and a formal. Tickets are available to purchase at all three thrift stores: Westbank, 101 – 3531 Old Okanagan Hwy; Kelowna at 1511 Sutherland Ave.; and Rutland, 200 North Rutland Road.
The first 150 tickets sold will receive a swag bag of gifts. Discounted tickets are available for students with ID. It all starts at 7 p.m
Anna Jacyszyn is an award-winning jazz singer. Email her at artafactevent@gmail.com.